Apparatus for forming welding tape



June 29, 1948. F. c. KNIGHT ETAL 2,444,262

APPARATUS FOR FORMING WELDING'TAPES Filed Aug. 12, 1944' 4 Sheets-Sheet1 mmvross FLOYD c. KNIGHT JOHN R. PIERCE ATTORN YS June 129, 19458. F.c. KNIGHT ETAL APPARATUS FOR FORMING WELDING TAPES Filed Aug. 12, 1944 4Sheets-Sheet 2 FLOYD C. KNIGHT JOHN R PIERCE ATTOR S June 29, 1948. F.c. KNIGHT EIAL 2,444,262

APPARATUS FOR FORMING WELDING TAPES Filed Aug. 12, 1944 4 Shets-Sheet 3S S m 5 u 8 WW I. 9 4 6 9 m M Llfifillwlallw l c. A m 4... g

Egovo JOHN PIERCE 6W4 3 71 Ila;

0 ns a-n l EII I 21111111441141! FrilrI/irliill Flllrlll i. i.

m, 19 8. F. Q-KNIGHT m 2 444,262

APPARATUS FOR FORMING WELDING TAPES Filed Aug. 12, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ATTORN S which:

Patented June 29, 1948 APPARATUS FOR FORMING WELDING TAPE Floyd 0.Knight, East Cleveland, and John 1:.

Pierce, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to ArcrodsCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Application August 12, 1944,Serial no. 549,224

8 Claims. (01. 91-18) This invention relates to apparatus for formingwelding tape and more particularly to a deformable welding tape of thekind disclosed in the patent to Bereit 2,164,104, June 27, 1939, in

. which the base fabric is composed at least in part of a deformable butinelastic wire, and in which the base fabric is embedded within a bodycomposed of fluxing or slag producing materials.

In the device of the present invention, fluxing or slag producingmaterials are applied to the fabric in the form of a semi-fluid mud-likemixture, which after application to the fabric strip is dried thereon toform a tape that is adapted to envelope an electrode rod as it is beingfed to the welding arc.

The present invention has for its object to provide apparatus forrapidly and continuously applying the semi-fluid body forming mixture tothe fabric base, drying the same and winding the finished tape onsuitable reels.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for maintainingthe mud bath at a uniform consistency during the passage of the tapethrough the bath, so as to apply a uniform homogeneous and relativelythick coating to the fabric strips.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said tocomprise the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings,hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims,together with such variations and modifications thereof as may beapparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a Part ofthis specification, in

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of pressure applying rollersviewed as indicated at 2-2 in Fig- Fig. 3 is a section taken on the lineindicated at 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, with a portion of the drying oven broken awayto show parts of the interior thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the heater and the drivingmotor for the tape actuating mechanism;

F18. 6 is a section taken on the line indicated at 66 in Fig- 1;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the dipping tank shown in Fla- 6:

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line indicated at 8-8 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line indicated at 89 in Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view in vertical section showing the generalarrangement of the parts.

As shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 10 of the drawing, a series of narrow fabricstrips A are simultaneously fed from, a row of reels B, through a mudbath C, a drying oven D, and dusting receptacle E, to wind-up reels Fupon which the completed tapes are wound.

As best shown-in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the semi-fluid coating materialis applied to the fabric strips A in a dipping tank I and the fabricstrip A is fed into the tank over an elongated roller 2 at the top frontedge of the tank, the roller 2 being supported upon suitable brackets 3attached to the tank wall. The fabric strips pass downwardly from theroller 2 and under a guide roller 4 in the lower portion of the tank,the roller 4 being supported upon brackets 5 attached to the front wallof the tank. After passing through the tank I the strips are guidedupwardly between a pair of wiper bars 6 and I that are supported uponhorizontally disposed plates 8 at opposite sides of the strips. Thewiper bar 6 is secured in fixed position upon its plate by means ofbolts 9, while the bar I is slidably mounted. being guided by means oftransverse slots II which receive guide bolts ll. The bars i are pressedtoward the bars 6 by means of springs Ia so that they will yield topermit passage of solid objects between the bars without damage to thefabric and movement of the bars 1 toward the bars 6 is limited by stopscrews [2, which may be adjusted to vary the range of movement impartedto bars 1 by'the springs. The edges of the bars 6 and 1 presented to thefabric strips A are preferably rounded, as indicated at l3 in Fig. 8.

The composition applied to the fabric strips the wiper bars 6 and 1.

to the bottom thereof, two longitudinally extendlng screws 14 and ii aremounted side, by side. Screws l4 and I! are mounted upon shafts l3 andI1 which extend beyond the ends of the receptacle and which are providedwith sprockets ll of equal size over which a sprocket chain l8 runs. Toenable the screws to have effective stirring action, it is desirablethat they be so disposed as to propel the fluid mixture in oppositedirections. As herein shown the two screws have blades of oppositeangularity and are caused to rotate simultaneously in the same directionby the sprocket chain l0.

Parallel with the shafts l6 and I! and at the rear of the tank Ithere'is mounted a shaft which is driven by an electric motor 2| throughsuitable gearing in -a reduction gear housing 22. Vertical shafts 23extend down into opposite ends of the tank as shown in Figs. 6 and 'land have radial vanes 24 attached thereto at their lower ends and asecond set of radial vanes 25 attached thereto above the vanes 24.Shafts 28 have sprockets 21 at their upper ends and are driven bysprocket chains 28 that run over the sprockets 21 and over sprockets 29on vertical shafts 30 that are driven in opposite directions by bevelgears ii on the shaft 20. The shaft 20 also drives the screws l4 and 15,being connected to the shaft it by a sprocket chain 32. p

In the operation of the machine the fabric strips A are drawncontinuously through the dipping tank I and the semi-fluid mixture ofthe tank is kept at a uniform consistency by means through a belt 46 byan electric motor 41. A duct 48 connects the inlet of the blower to theheater chamber 4| and a duct 48 connects the outlet of the blower to anopening in the bottom of the drier D. The drying chamber D has an outlet50 at the top thereof, that is controlled by a damper SI and the heaterchamber 4| has an inlet 52 that is controlled by a damper 53. Duringoperation the blower 45 draws air and combustion gases from the heaterchamber 4| and discharges the hot gases through the duct 48 into thedrier chamber. Air may pass from the drying chamber D to the heater 4ithrough a duct connecting the bottom of the drying chamber to theheating chamber 4l, so that the heating gases are continuouslycirculated through the drying chamber. By adjusting the dampers ii and53 some of the heating gases may be permitted to escape and additionalair may be drawn into the system.

At the rear of the drying chamber there is provided an elongated drivingroll 56 over which the tapes pass. The roll 58 is mounted on ahorizontal shaft 51 that is driven by a sprocket chain 58 from anelectric motor 59 suitable change speed and reducing gears beingprovided in houslugs "and 61 so that the rate of travel of the tapes maybe regulated as desired.' As best shown of the agitating screws i4 andi5 and the rotat= ing agitator vanes 24 and 25 at the ends of the tank.By keeping the mud bath at a uniform consistency, a substantiallyuniform and homogeneous coating is applied to the fabric strips, andthis coating is smoothed and compacted by the action of the wiper bars 8and I.

The coated strips pass upwardly into the drying oven D which issupported upon a suitable framework 33 with its floor or bottom wallabove The strips pass in a vertical direction through an opening in thebottom wall of the oven which is provided with an entrance chamber whichas best shown in Figs. 4 and 10 has vertical walls which form a narrowslot through which the coated strips pass. Above the entrance slotformed by the walls 36, adjustable plates 31 at the top of the entrancechamber 35 are adapted to provide a slot of the desired width throughwhich the tapes enter the main chamber of the drier. The drier isprovided with a pair of guide rollers 38 adjacent to the top thereof andwith a pair of guide rollers 39 adjacent to the bottom. As shown inFigs. 1 and 10 the fabric is passed over one of the top rollers 38 andbeneath the two bottom rollers 39.

However, when the nature of the coating applied is such that a longerdrying period is desirable, the tape may be directed upwardly from thefirst of the lower rollers 39 over the second of the upper rollers 38,thence downwardly under the second rollers 39. Adjacent to the bottomthereof the rear wall of the drying oven D is provided with an exit slotthrough which the tapes may pass.

Beneath the drying oven D there is mounted a heater that is in the formof an elongated cylindrical chamber 4| provided with a refractory lining42. The heater is provided with a burner 43 at one end which is suppliedwith fuel through a pipe line 44. Adjacent to the heater there ismounted a fan blower which is driven in Fig.3 the driving roll 56 has arubber covering 62 to provide more effective frictional engagement withthe tape and the individual tapes are pressed against the roll 56 byrollers 63 mounted on short shafts 64 carried by yokes 65 that areslidable vertically in a guide frame 66. The guide frame 86 has sidewalls 61 that engage opposite sides of the yokes 65 and cross spacers 68are provided at intervals between yokes 65, the yokes 85 having slidingengagement with the side walls 61 and spacers 68 which retain them inposition above the roll 56. Individual adjusting screws 69 are providedfor the yokes 65 so that the pressure applied by each roller can beregulated.

The tapes pass from the driving roll 58 to suitable wind-up reels F,each supported on its spindle II and supported with their peripheriesresting upon a driving roll 12. Reels F are held in position on thedriving roll 12 by means of arms 13 that are pivoted at one end to theframe 33' and which hook over the spindles II. The roll 12 is driven bysprocket chain 14 that passes over a large sprocket 15 on the shaft 51.The driving roll 56 extends across the top of a dusting receptacle 16that is adapted to contain a suitable powder such as talcum powder. Inits passage from the slot 40 to the driving roll 58 the tape is guidedover a roller l1 and under a. roller 18 that is located adjacent to thebottom of receptacle l6 and directly below the roller 58, the receptacle16 being partially filled with powder which is held by gravity againstthe side of the tape that contacts with the roller 62. Any moisture onthe tape is thus taken up by powder adhering thereto so that whensubsequently wound upon reel F the contacting layers of tape will adheretogether.

It is desirable that the humidity of the oven D be so controlled as toprevent the formation of a hard crust on the surface of the tape beforethe interior is properly dried. Means is therefore provided forsupplying moisture to the air entering the oven adjacent the point ofentry of the tape into the oven. As shown in Figs. 4 and 10, a tray isformed in the bottom of the entrance chamber 35 to which hot water issupplied by means of a pipe 81. Water vaporized by the innot i tape.

- coming air serves to increasethe humidity and prevent too rapid dryingof the surface of the It will be apparent that various changes in thestructure herein shown and described may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. I

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for forming welding tape comprising a dipping receptacle, apair of parallel opposaid screws, means for driving said screws andagitators, and fabric guiding means comprising a roller parallel withsaid screws and'between the same adjacent the peripheries of the screws.

2. Apparatus for, forming welding tape comprising a dipping receptable,a pair of parallel oppositely acting screws within the receptableadjacent the bottom, means for driving said screws, fabrieguiding meanscomprising a roller parallel with said screws and centrally disposedwith respect thereto adjacent the screw peripheries, agitators withinthe tank adjacent the bottom thereof, beyond the opposite ends of saidscrews and roller, said agitators being rotatable about vertical axes,and means for driving said agitators.

3. Apparatus for forming welding tape comprising an elongated dippingreceptacle, vertical shafts extending into said receptacle adjacent theends thereof, parallel horizontal shafts extending longitudinally of thereceptacle adjacent the bottom thereof, agitator vanes attached to thevertical shafts adjacent the bottom of the re- 1 ceptacle, screw bladesof opposite angularity attached to said horizontal shafts, means fordriving said vertical shafts in opposite directions, means for drivingthe horizontal shafts in the same direction, and a fabric guiding rollermounted between the vertical shafts and parallel with and between saidhorizontal shafts.

4. Apparatus for forming welding tape comprising a vertically elongateddrying oven, a dipping tank beneath said oven, means for guiding a stripof fabric into said tank, guide rollers for the fabric strip within theoven adjacent the top and bottom thereof, a guide roller for the fabricstrip in the cent the bottom. agitators within the tank adja- V 6 Hchamber to the bottom of the oven, a fan blower, a duct connecting theblower inlet to said chitmher, a duct connecting the blower outlet tothe bottom of the oven, a damper controlled outlet to the atmosphere atthe top of the oven, and a damper controlled inlet for admitting air tosaid chamber.-

6. Apparatus for forming tape comprising a drying oven, adipping tankbeneath said oven, guide rollers within said oven adjacent the top andbottom thereof, a guide roller in said dipping a humidifying entrancechamber in the bottom of said oven and above said dipping tank, a watertray in said entrance chamber,

means for supplying water .to said tray, means in- I.

eluding a power driven roll adjacent an opening in said oven for drawingsaid tape over said guide rollers and through said tank and said oven, ablower having an inlet and an outlet, a'heater located beneath saidoven, a duct connecting said heater to said oven, a duct connecting saidheater to said blower inlet, a duct connecting said blower outlet tosaid oven, means for driving said blower to circulate air through saidheater and said oven, a damper controlled outlet from said oven to theatmosphere, and a dampercontrolled inlet for admitting air to saidheater.

7. Apparatus for forming tape comprising a drying oven, a dipping tankbeneath said oven, guide rollers within said oven adjacent the top andbottom thereof, a guide roller in said dipping tank, a humidifyingentrance chamber in the bottom of said oven and above said dipping tank,a

' water tray in said entrance chamber, means for dipping tank, an entryopening in the bottom of the oven through which the strip passes fromthe rollerin said tank, a lateral exit opening in the rear wall of theoven adjacent the bottom thereof through which the strip passes from thelower roller in said oven, a powder receptacle into which the exit.opening leads, a guide roller in said receptacle to which the strippasses from said lower roller, a driving roll above the last mentionedroller, a pressure roller for pressing the tape against said roll, atape wind-up reel to which the strip passes from the driving roll andmeans for driving said roll and wind-up reel.

5. Apparatus. for forming welding tape comprising a vertically elongateddrying oven, a dip ping tank beneath said oven, guide rollers within theoven adjacent the top and bottom thereof, a guide roller inthe dippingtank, an entry opening in the bottom of the oven, a lateral exit openingin the rear wall of the ovenadjacent the bottom thereof, a powderreceptacle into which the exit opening leads, means including a powerdriven roll'to the rear of the oven for drawing the strip over saidguide rollers and through the tank and oven,a heater beneath the oven,said heater having a burner and a chamber into which combustion gases'pass a duct connecting said the atmosphere. and a damper controlledsupplying water to said tray, wiper bars resilient-' ly biased towardone another and located on opposite sides of said tape between saiddipping v tank and said entrance chamber, means including a power drivenroll adjacent an opening in said oven for drawing said tape over saidguide rollers and through said tank and said ovenQa blower having aninlet and an outlet, a heater located beneath said oven, a ductconnecting said heater to said oven, a duct connecting said heater I tosaid blower inlet, a duct connecting said blower outlet to said oven,means for driving said blower to circulate air through said heater andsaid oven, a damper controlled outlet from said oven to inlet foradmitting air to said heater.

8. Apparatus for forming tape comprising means for supporting a seriesof reels each having a narrow strip of fabric wound thereon, a dryingoven having in its bottom an entry opening for said strips of fabric, adipping tank beneath said entry opening in said oven, guide rollerswithin said oven adjacent the top and bottom thereof,-

a guide roller in said dipping tank, a heater located beneath said ovenand to one side of said dipping tank, a blower having an inlet and anoutlet, a duct connecting said heater to the bottom of said oven, a ductconnecting said heater to said blower inlet, a duct connecting saidblower outlet to the bottom of said oven, means for driving said blowerto circulate air through said heater and said oven, means including anelongated power driven roll having a resilient rubber covering overwhich said strips pass side by side for simultaneously drawing saidstrips in side by side relationship over said guide rollers and 7through said tank and said oven, independently adjustable rollersextending lengthwise of said elongated power driven roll for adjustablypressing each of said fabric strips against said roll. a

wind-up reel for each strip and means for driving said wind-up reels.

MYD C. KNIGHT. JOHN R. FIERCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me ofthis patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gavin my 31, 1879 Kites et a1.Sept. 30, 1894 McL-ennan Dec. 12, 1893 Rupley Feb. 16, 1904 uLubbertsmeler Dec. 5, 1905 Number Schindler Nov. 27, 1945

